Welcome to RCF - WHF

rb2d2 · Sep 25, 2004

DVD Decoder Information and Help

What is a DVD Decoder?

Currently DVD players are becoming standard devices on computer systems. They allow a user to play CD-ROMs as well as DVDs. However in order to play DVDs, the DVD must be decoded by software on the computer before it can be played.

A decoder performs three functions:

1. It unlocks the CSS copy protection applied to the video files on a DVD movie disc;
2. It decodes the MPEG2 formatting applied to video content;
3. It displays the video through a viewer program installed in Windows.

Developing and certifying a DVD decoder requires that additional licensing and royalty fees be paid to the various patentholders of DVD technology. This is why DVD decoders are not available as "free" software. Usually when you buy a DVD player for a computer it comes with DVD decoder software, but what if you bought a second-hand computer or purchased a refurbished computer and it didnt come with decoder software. What are your options then?

I still don't understand it. Isn't what SUPER does decoding? Or is that recoding?

OK, I just looked and it's encoding!

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